BBC - Philharmonic

Julian Joseph: Biography

Julian Joseph grew up amongst an exceptionally strong crop of British jazz musicians, spending an inspirational two years as a teenager attending jazz workshops at the Weekend Arts College in London before taking up a scholarship in 1985 at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. There he met the Marsalis brothers and enjoyed an international 'coming of age' as pianist in Branford's quartet, touring the US and Canada in the company of such artists as Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin and Joe Williams.

Come 1990, degree in hand, he re-entered what had become a thriving jazz scene back in the UK, populated by such as Courtney Pine, Jason Rebello, Cleveland Watkiss, Steve Williamson and Orphy Robinson.

As a charismatic and virtuoso leader of his own Trio, Quartet, eight-piece Forum project and Big Band; as composer and improviser; as project innovator; he has carved out a unique position for himself at the vanguard of the international jazz scene - not only as a performing musician but also as an articulate and persuasive ambassador for his art, familiar in the concert hall and also on television and radio.

Julian Joseph has played a substantial role in breaking down the artificial barriers between 'classical' and 'jazz' music. By his own synthesis of style and influences and by way of his innovative projects at 'classical' venues and with musicians from all disciplines, he has established himself as one of the most significant international voices of jazz, today and for the future. He has played a leading role in the launch of the Associated Board's New Jazz Syllabus, which incorporates one of his own compositions, and he is a patron of the Jazz Development Trust, established in 1998.

'Seamless, inspiring bridges between jazz and classical, black and white. Every phase oozes instinctive musicianship.' The Stage, July 2007.

'Julian Joseph is undoubtedly one of the finest inspirational jazz pianists and composers to emerge this side of the Atlantic. Admired for his accomplishments at weaving colourful textures and harmonies in his music… amazing dexterity… rapturous applause.' Sara Taukolonga, The Voice, 10 May 1999.

Biography taken from www.julianjoseph.com

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